Temple of Santiago Apostle

This beautiful 16th-century temple is worth a visit, and its wooden nave is decorated in the style of a coffered ceiling or a historical coffered ceiling. It also has a beautiful baroque altarpiece with oil painting, which has given it the nickname of the “Sistine of America.”

The temple of Santiago de Tupátaro, Michoacán, is of great historical and aesthetic importance because it preserves one of the few coffered ceilings from the 17th century that we can still admire in Mexico and that are characteristic of the colonial architecture of Michoacán. This church was built at the beginning of the 17th century, by the Franciscan order. And it was dedicated to Santiago Apóstol, patron saint of Spain and America. Today this church is a jewel with its wonders found inside. Decorated with murals that represent scenes from the life of Santiago, as well as other unique religious themes.

At this site, there is an image of the Lord of the Pine, which legend has it was found inside a tree that had been cut down by a farmer and that as unique characteristics, it is found to have indigenous features and according to the inhabitants of the town, it has been growing over the years, since when it arrived at this place, it is said that it measured around 1.50 meters while currently, it reaches 1.80 meters in height.

The temple is built of adobe and has a wooden roof covered with tiles, while the walls of the temple are reinforced by three corner buttresses and two intermediate ones and the floor of the nave is made up of a platform with ninety independent boards and supported by sleepers.

The murals inside the church were made by local indigenous artists, showing this artistic blend of pre-Hispanic cultural tradition alongside European art. The paintings depict biblical scenes, the lives of saints and other religious representations.

One of the main reasons why the Church of Santiago Apóstol is considered the Sistine Chapel of Mexico is due to the quality and majesty of these works of art within the chapel. Likewise, the murals are considered one of the most beautiful in Mexico and have been compared to those of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. They depict important religious scenes and a cultural heritage steeped in history.

Over the years, the church of Santiago Apóstol has undergone restoration and conservation to preserve its original splendor. Today, guided tours are offered that allow visitors to explore and admire the artistic wealth of this hidden treasure in the heart of Michoacán.